My name is Kelly M. Sharp and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For the past 12 years I have worked with clients around managing the competing needs that life can bring. I hope to bring readers simple, small and palatable ideas, thoughts and suggestions that may contribute to living a connected, richer and happier life. My posts are meant to provoke, enlighten and bring awareness to the little things that can make huge impacts on our day to day to life! Enjoy and I appreciate your thoughts and comments!
As Summer draws to an end and Fall begins to roll in, I am reminded of all the fun and good times that Summer afforded this year. I can think back on the past few months with gratitude for all the great memories created with my family and friends. Vacations, neighborhood pool parties, evening walks around town etc.
Why is it that there seems to be more time for nurturing these important relationships and creating lasting memories during summertime? It seems a majority of us depend on summer vacations, anniversarys or holidays to engage and attend to the important relationships in our lives.
The change in season allows a time for us to think ahead about the ways we want to pay particular attention to the people and relationships that matter most to us. Often times it is those we care most about that we inadvertently put on hold. We become busy with work, school and other responsibilities and sometimes the price we pay for our busy lifestyles is higher than we realize.
I encourage you think about the people and relationships that are most important to you. Have you made an effort lately to spend quality time nurturing them? Relationships change and evolve over time and if we do not tend to them the results can be catastrophic. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but rather point out that like our gardens, if we don't manage them they can get over run with weeds. Like our bank accounts, if we don't make deposits, we set ourselves up to be overdrawn. Don't let this happen to the relationships that you value most. Make time to nurture them, pull the weeds and make as many deposits as you can. The effort will be well worth it as you will find that friends, family and partners feel appreciated and prioritized. It often is the case that when others feel loved and appreciated, they are more likely to be loving and gracious towards you.
